Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “kevel” come from?

kevel (English) comes from Middle English kevel, from Old Norse kefli, from Proto-Germanic kablaz, from Proto-Indo-European ǵebʰ- — jaw, mouth; to eat, chew; branch.

kevel (English): A strong cleat to which large ropes are belayed;...

Definitions

  1. A strong cleat to which large ropes are belayed;...

Ancestry of “kevel”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishkevel—
2Old Norsekeflia roll; scroll
3Proto-Germanickablazround piece of wood
4Proto-Indo-Europeanǵebʰ-jaw, mouth; to eat, chew; branch
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵebʰ- →